Puberty

This code signifies the normal physiological process of sexual maturation in adolescents. It encompasses the physical and hormonal changes that lead to reproductive capability, including the development of secondary sexual characteristics. This is a general code for puberty without specifying any abnormalities.

This code is appropriate for encounters where a patient is presenting for routine evaluation or counseling related to their normal pubertal development. It can also be used when puberty is noted as a relevant factor in a patient's overall health status, but not as a primary diagnosis for an illness.

• Do not use this code for precocious or delayed puberty; specific codes exist for those conditions.
• This code is typically used as a secondary diagnosis when the primary reason for the visit is something else, but puberty is a contributing factor.
• Consider if a more specific "V" code related to counseling or observation might be more appropriate depending on the encounter's focus.